Grooming ‘white-hat hackers’

K.C. Alfred

Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Alex Bivin, left, and Master Sgt. Daryl Kinney, right, do a communication satellite field demonstration for students in a San Diego Cyber Security Boot Camp at National University. The two are from the 147th Combat Communication Squadron at the San Diego Air National Guard Station.

Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Alex Bivin, left, and Master Sgt. Daryl Kinney, right, do a communication satellite field demonstration for students in a San Diego Cyber Security Boot Camp at National University. The two are from the 147th Combat Communication Squadron at the San Diego Air National Guard Station. (K.C. Alfred)

When it comes time to write the what-I-did-this-summer essay, 16-year-old Jacob Underwood of Ramona might raise a few eyebrows.

He learned how to hack into a computer system like a pro, handle malware and data mine for hidden information.

It’s the kind of stuff that nearly brought down Sony Pictures Entertainment, led to the theft of personal information from millions of JPMorgan Chase accounts, and jeopardized 80 million members of the Anthem Blue Cross health care giant.

Don’t worry, Jacob has pledged to use his knowledge for good.

“I’ve learned a lot — about how the bad stuff is done, a lot of bad — but more importantly how to fight it, how to be a white-hat hacker,” said Jacob, 16. “The biggest take-away for me is the career options. I could do this job.”

Jacob was among dozens of high schools students from throughout San Diego and Los Angeles counties last week to attend Cyber Boot Camp, an unusual San Diego day camp where counselors include a military electronic warfare officer, FBI agent, federal judge and industry experts.

The purpose of the camp is to help tech-minded teenagers hone their skills while encouraging them to pursue a college education and career devoted to the increasingly relevant world of cybersecurity.

Offered by the Securing Our eCity Foundation, a San Diego nonprofit that works to educate the community about cybersecurity issues, the free camp was offered to members of top computer and “cyber patriot” clubs throughout the region.

“Every single person, organization, business and government agency is vulnerable to a cyber attack and most don’t even know it,” said Liz Fraumann, executive director of the foundation. “We would like these students to help protect us some day.”

From the Kearny Mesa campus of National University, these campers spent their days in a “war room” and “hack lab,” and data mining centers. They received briefings in a military tent that housed a quickly assembled communications center, modeled after the one set up at the scene of the Boston Marathon bombing.

The tech-savvy students blocked attacks on equipment they are charged with protecting, studied cellphone impersonation and sought out social media weak spots.

Capt. Tom Touw, an electronic warfare officer with the California Army National Guard, delivered a lecture to the campers that he usually gives to officers.

“These kids are smart. A lot of them already know a lot of this,” he said. “This is such a digital age, these kids are really going to make the military stronger in the future.’

Recent and alleged cyber attacks include one involving the St. Louis Cardinals reportedly hacking into the computer system of the Houston Astros; and a hack attack of a Polish airline that grounded planes. Data on millions of federal employees has been compromised by security breeches.

The Pentagon has said that virtual sabotage could be considered an act of war if committed by another country or terrorist group. President Barak Obama announced in April plans to authorize sanctions to penalize cyber criminals who undermine U.S. security and financial stability.

“Cyber threats pose one of the most serious economic and national security challenges to the United States, and my administration is pursuing a comprehensive strategy to confront them,” Obama said in announcing the new sanctions.

As hackers become more sophisticated, the need for cyber warriors becomes stronger. Cyber security jobs are part of a quickly growing industry.

In 2013, there were 209,749 postings for cyber security-related jobs nationally. These positions account for nearly 10% of all IT jobs. Cybersecurity postings grew 74 percent from 2007 to 2013, a growth rate that is more than two times faster than all IT jobs, according to labor-market analytics firm Burning Glass Technologies,

It’s a call to duty that appeals to Samantha Tran, a student at Del Norte High School and cyber boot camper.

“The whole thought, that I’m doing something that could help the nation, my community and my family? I like that,” said Samantha, 17.

It seemed appropriate that this year’s cyber boot camp was held at National University, which offers a masters of science in cyber security and information assurance.

The degree has become increasing popular, said John A. Cicero, dean of the school of engineering and computing.

“This program is growing and growing because of the need and the jobs,” Cicero said. “A lot of people come in are already professionals — military or in corporate IT. Ethics is a key component.”

That’s because to protect computer systems, a cyber warrior also must knowing how to break them.

At the university, cyber security student study ethics. Before Samantha and other cyber campers are walked through basic hacking and other ways of inflicting widespread damage from clicking on a keyboard, they took a pledge to defend — not harm — the public and private sectors with their skills.

Students also met with business representative during a job fair.

“We really want to connect the business with these kids,” said Fraumann, who helps organize the camp every year.

“Even if they don’t go into the profession, they can help protect the tablets they get at school. They can help their parents and friends. Because everyday, there is someone about to click on an email from the Nigerian prince.”